Trousers-stretcher.



B. P. DORWARD.

TROUSERS STRETGHER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 1, 1910. 71,010,241 Patented .Nov. 28,1911.

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COLUMBIA PLANOORAP" 60;,WAsmNo1oN, D. c.

E. P. D'ORWARD.

TROUSERS STRBTG-HBR.

urmoumn IILIIDNOV. 1., 1910.

Patented Nov. 28, 1911.

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COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0.,wAsHlNu1oN, D. c.

PATENT oFmoE.

EDWIN P. DORWABD, OF MARION, OHIO.

TROUSERS-STRETCHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 28, 1911.

Application filed. November 1, 1910. Serial No. 590,192.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN P. DoRwARD, citizen of the United States, residing at Marion, in the county of Marion and State of Ohio, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in T rousers-Stretchers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to devices for stretching trousers to enable them to be pressed and creased, and has for one of its objects to simplify and improve the con struction and increase the efficiency and utility of devices of this character.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simply constructed device of this character which may be dist-ended to any required extent and locked in adjusted position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which may be folded in a relatively small space for transportation or storage.

With these and otherobjects in View the invention consists in certain novel features of construction as hereinafter shown and described and then specifically pointed out in the claims; and, in the drawings illustrative of the preferred embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 is an elevation of the improved device in open or operative position; Fig. 2 is an enlarged bottom plan view of the improved device arranged as shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the clamp members, detached; Fig. 4 is a detail view, illustrating a modification "in the construction to enable the device to be folded into a small space; Fig. 5 is a view of the improved device in folded position; Fig. 6 is a detail view, illustrating another modification in the construction; Fig. 7 is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 6.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The improved device may be constructed of any suitable material, but for the purpose of illustration is shown formed entirely of metal, and comprises in general side members 1011, constructed of relatively thin metal, curved or in angular shape near one end, as indicated at 1213, to conform to the outline of the lower or ankle portions of a trousers leg, so that when the side members are inserted into one of the legs of a pair of trousers and distended, the members will exactly conform to the shape of the same, and these outlines will be varied to suit the forms of different styles of trousers.

The side members l0-11, it will be obvious, correspond in length substantially to the lengths of trousers legs, and means are provided for distending the side members after being placed within the trousers leg, to stretch the same, and hold them in convenient position for the application of the pressing iron, and then retain them in stretched position until they are completely dried. The means shown for distending the side members comprises bars 14:15, jointed at 16 and pivotally connected at 1718 to the members 10-11 near one end and with similar bars 19-20, jointed at 21 to each other and pivotally connected at 2223 to the members '1011. The bars 1415 are arranged to open outwardly or toward the ends of the side members, while the bars 1920 are likewise arranged to open in the opposite direction or toward the opposite ends of the side members 10-11-.

Means are provided in the improved device for forcibly actuating the jointed bars so that they are utilized to forcibly distend the members 1011. The preferable means for actuating thejointed bars consists of clamp members actuated by threaded rods, and each of the clamp members and their operating means are precisely the same and the description of one will suffice for both. The clamp members are represented as a whole at 24 and are provided at their ends with sockets 25 for bearing upon opposite sides of the ointed bars and with depending cars 26 intermediate the ends, the ears being provided with threaded apertures to receive a screw rod 27 Connected to each of the joints 16-21 is a guide plate 28 through which the threaded rod extends, and each rod is provided with a stop shoulder 29 for bearing upon the member 28. By this simple means it will be obvious that when the screw rods are engaged in the threaded ear 26 with the shoulder 29 against the guide -member 28 and rotated, a force will be applied to the jointed bars and operate to forcibly distend the members 10-11. Pivoted at 30 to one of the side members, for instance the member 10, is a lock arm 31 having a lateral pin 32 adapted to engage in one of a series of holes 33 in one of the jointed bars, for instance the bar 14. By

this means a positive lock device is produced which will firmly hold the jointed bars in their distended position to any required extent within the range of the apertures 33. This is an important feature of the improved device and materially increases its efficiency and utility, and effectually prevents any danger of accidental displacement of the parts after having been once distended.

The side members l011 may be each constructed in one single piece, or formed in two or more separable sections, to enable the device to be folded into a small space for convenience of transportation or storage, or to enable the device to be placed in an ordinary suit case, trunk, or valise if required.

In Fig. 4 an approved form of such a joint is shown and comprises a dovetail recess 34 in one section and a correspondingly dovetail projection 35 in the other section, and a U-shape holding member 36 pivoted to one of the sections at 37 in position to bear over the portions 3435, and thus firmly locking the two sections together. The member 36 will be narrower than the width of the jointed members l011, so that the outer edges will be left free for the passage of the creasing iron or other implement.

In Figs. 6 and 7 a modified means for actuating the jointed bars is shown and consists of a toothed disk 38 located between the bars as shown in ig. 7, and rigidly coupled to one of the bars of each pair. Pivoted at 39 to one of the jointed bars is a pawl 40 adapted to engage the teeth in the member 38 one at a time, and thus hold the disk from rotation. By this means it will be obvious that the ointed bars may be adjusted to any desired position and locked in the adjusted position by applying the pawl 40 to the disk.

The improved device is simple in construction, can be inexpensively manufactured, of any suitable material, and by means thereof a pair of trousers may be stretched to any required extent and the creasing implement conveniently applied while the trousers are held in stretched position, and retained in stretched condition aslong as required.

Having thus described my invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A device of the class described, comprising two side members, a lug having a lateral ofi'set provided with a guide aperture, links pivotally united atone end to said lug and pivoted respectively to said side members at their other ends, a threaded rod engaging through said threaded lug aperture, and a clamp member having a threaded aperture for engagement by said rod and provided with forked terminals for slidably engaging said. links and operating to distend said side members. v

2. A device of the class described comprising two side members having relatively thin outer edges each formed in two sections with interlocking dovetailed recesses and terminals at their confronting ends, U shaped clamp members bearing, over said interlocking portions, and means operating between said side members when coupled I to forcibly distend the same.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWIN P. DORWVARD. Witnesses:

- J. H.EYENON,. L. S. SHIELDS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe- Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D; G. i 

